Stacked Optical Fiber Storage Compartment Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical fiber distribution systems face inefficiencies in managing and protecting optical fibers, particularly due to the lack of effective separation and protection of excess fibers, leading to increased maintenance complexity and risk of damage during switching and splicing operations.
Innovation Solution
A stacked optical fiber storage compartment with a compartment body, optical fiber splicing unit, support plate, and rotatably coupled trays that include excess trays and an optical jump fiber support unit to manage and protect optical fibers by separating them by type, preventing interference, and securely fixing tubes to prevent external damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If optical fibers are accommodated in a conventional storage compartment, then the compartment can hold excessive number of optical fibers, but separating the fibers becomes difficult and cutting/bending of other fibers occurs during separating work
Solution Approach 1:
The storage compartment is divided into multiple storage units, each unit containing separate storage spaces for different types of optical fibers. This segmentation allows fibers to be organized by type (jumper fibers, lead-in fibers, lead-out fibers) rather than being mixed together, making separation and identification much easier while maintaining the ability to hold large quantities of fibers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If optical jump fiber is spliced from one tray to adjacent tray, then distribution/switching can be performed, but interference between optical jump fibers and trays increases when number of jump fibers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical jump fibers are extracted from the tray structure and stored in dedicated storage spaces within the storage units. This separation removes the interfering elements (jump fibers) from the tray area where splicing operations occur, eliminating the interference problem while preserving the distribution and switching functionality through organized fiber access.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional splice tray is used, then splicing work can be performed, but protecting optical fibers and arranging excess of jumper cords and optical fibers are not performed efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The storage units are nested within the compartment body, with each storage unit containing multiple storage spaces organized hierarchically. Excess trays are nested within the storage spaces to hold excess fiber lengths. This nested structure provides efficient protection and arrangement of fibers at multiple levels, making maintenance and repair operations more manageable.
4Adaptability or versatility
If optical fiber arranging part and splicing part are located on different planes, then mechanical connector can be used, but size of distribution system becomes relatively large and jumper optical fiber can be damaged due to external force
Solution Approach 1:
The storage units are designed to be mounted on the same plane as the splice trays, merging the fiber storage function with the splicing plane. This integration eliminates the need for separate planes for storage and splicing, reducing the overall system volume while maintaining mechanical connector functionality and protecting jump fibers from external forces through the organized storage structure.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a stacked optical fiber storage compartment formed to receive optical fibers, facilitate the connection of optical fibers and optical jumper cords, and facilitate the arranging and grouping of optical fibers. The stacked optical fiber storage compartment according to the present invention comprises: a compartment body including a main body portion having a receiving space and an open upper portion, and an opening and closing cover pivotably coupled on the main body portion to open and close the open upper portion of the main body portion; and an optical fiber connecting unit installed on the main body portion to receive and connect the respective optical fibers withdrawn from each of the tubes for optical cables extending into the compartment body. The optical fiber connecting unit comprises: a support plate mounted on the main body portion; connecting tube storing trays pivotably coupled through a hinge shaft to the support plate, and having optical connecting tube storing portions for connecting optical fibers; first and second keeping trays disposed at both sides of the respective connecting tube storing trays and including first and second keeping receiving portions that keep optical fibers or optical jump fibers and support same; and an optical fiber connecting unit installed on the support plate, and having an optical jump fiber when an optical fiber supported on the first keeping tray or the second keeping tray is jumped to a connecting tube storing tray from among the tube storing trays.